Left guard Barry Sims, back at practice after missing the last two exhibition games with an elbow injury, sounds a bit tentative when he talks about his chances of playing in Thursday night's final exhibition game against the Seahawks in Seattle.

But he's pretty unequivocal when he talks about the regular-season opener against the Chargers at the Coliseum on Sept. 11.

"No doubt," Sims said.

Sims, converted to guard this year, has started every game at left tackle the past three seasons. He has appeared in 61 consecutive regular-season and postseason games, and he clearly wants to keep that ironman streak alive.

"It's not fun watching games," Sims said.

Rookie strong safety Michael Huff, the Raiders' No. 1 draft pick this year, also has been cleared to return to practice after spraining his ankle in the exhibition win over the 49ers on Aug. 20 at the Coliseum.

Coach Art Shell said he would make a game-day decision on both players.

Walter ready: Quarterback Andrew Walter, held out of Friday night's win over the Lions with bursitis and tendinitis in his throwing shoulder, said Monday he was feeling fine.

Walter was held out of practice last Tuesday at training camp in Napa, and has been limited in his throwing since then. He even took Sunday completely off.

He said the rest worked.

"I should be good this week," Walter said.

Although Walter initially was scheduled to see considerable action before the soreness, Shell wouldn't say how much the quarterback might play in Thursday's game.

"We'll approach it with caution," Shell said.

The reaper comes calling: The Raiders need to trim their roster from 90 players to 75 by today. Then the team has to come down to the regular-season complement of 53 by Sunday.

It began Monday with the release of six players. That means -- accounting for the surprise signing of quarterback Jeff George -- nine more players will be cut today.